Device for driving electric clocks and similar apparatus.



, 0. 0.; ,mnsson. DEVICE FOR DRIVING ELECTRIC GLOQKS ANDSIMILAR APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT; 1, 1908. 1,061,550. Patented May 13, 1913.

- Inventor.

I II M I II tus 'to be driven. 5 and 6 UNITED STATES, PATENT oFFicE.

GUSTAF OSCAR LABSSON, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNCR TO AKTIEBOLAGET L. M. ERICSSON & 00., OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

DEVICE FOR DRIVING ELECTRIC CLOCKS AND SIMILAR APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 1913.

Application filed October 1, 1908. Serial No. 455,735.

'5 new and useful Improvements in Devices for Driving vElectric Clocks and Similar Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved device for driving electric clocks and similar apparatus, such as self-registering baromoters, musical instruments, and so on, in which the driving power consists of electric impulses supplied at certain intervals from.

an electric source of current. In apparatus of said kind the greatest diiiiculty has been to construct contacts which are not injured by the circuits unceasingly being closed and broken. It is especially the breaking spark which on account of its intensity destroys the contacts, and in order to reduce the same it has been proposed to use condensers that take up the extra current in breaking the circuit. In the present device, which is adapted to be used in apparatus driven from a source of continuous electric current, is also used a condenser but in such a manner that the" condenser takes up the working current from-the source of'electric current and thereupon supplies the same to a dischar e circuit by means of contact devices whic are controlled by the driven apparatus itself-in such a manner that a continuous circuit is never closed and the circuit is not broken at the contacts until the condenser has been charged or discharged. By this ineansthe formation of sparks in breaking the circuit will be fully obviated,-the break- 5 ing taking place at currentless contacts, and 40 111 my invention, while Fig. 2 illustrates the application of my invention to an electric pendulum. Fig. 3 shows a detail.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 indicates a source of electric current, 2a condenser and 3 an apparatus for transforming the electric impa'ratus 3 consists of an electro-magnet' and an armature/4 or any equlvalent devlce serving to ,drive the clock or any OSCAR LARS-.

pulses into mechanical power. The said, ap

other apparel indicate .two rof apendulum which oscillates on a center switches which alternately are opened and closed by the action of the apparatus driven by the current for instance by means of a pendulum, an oscillating balance wheel, a continuously rotating wheel, or the like. The switch5 is connected in series with the condenser and the electromagnet 3 and serves to close the circuit for charging the condenser, while the switch 6 is inserted in a bridge 78 and serves to discharge the condenser. Though a source of continuous electric current is used, a continuous current cannot, as is easily understood, flow through the switch 5 but only a rapidly decreasing impulse of current for charging the condenser. The switch 5 is thereupon opened when the charging current has ceased and before the switch 6 is closed for discharging the condenser. Also through the switch 6 passes only a short impulse of current which is rapidly reduced to MY, whereupon the switch 6 is opened before the switch 5 next time is closed, so that a continuous'circuit of the source of current is never closed. As is obvlous from the above the apparatus 3, 4 servlng to drive the clock, or the. like,

receives two impulses of current for each period of chargin and discharging, during which the switches 5 and 6 are each closed and opened "one at a time in such a manner that both are never closed simultaneously and so that the opening always takeslace at currentless contacts after the char ing or discharging of the condenser. Obviously the switches 5 and 6'may be combined to a two-way switch-if desired. The driving magnet 3 may be inserted at an arbitrary place in the circuit '6, 5, l, 8 or in the bridge 7,8. In the former case the discharge current of the condenser and in the of a few microfarads is sufiicient if the charges and discharges occur with so short intervals as correspond to the movements of the pendulum."

Referring now to Fig. 2, 9 indicates the rod -electro-magnet- 12 is secured to the frame of the clock (such frame not shown). The

pendulum is in well known manner kept in motion by the attraction or repulsion between the said electromagnets. On the pendulum rod, which is of a conducting material, such as metal, is further provided a contact arm 15 which is pivoted on a pin 16. and electrically insulated from the pendulum rod 9, said arm 15 having co tacts 13 and 14 atthe ends thereof. The m dtements of the arm 15 are somewhat checked by means of a weak spring plate 17 secured to the pendulum rod 9 and electrically insulated therefrom and bearing against the arm '15. 18 and 19 are two contact plates each of which is connected by means of a wire 22 and 23 respectively to one pole of a source of electric current, (not shown), the contacts 13 and 14 of the contact arm 15 striking said I plates during the movements of the pendulum. The electromagnet 11 is connected up between the pendulum rod 9 andthe spring plate 17,'while the electromagnet 12 and the condenser 20 are connected up between the pendulum rod 9 and that pole of the source of electric current, which is connected to the contact plate 19. The condenser is thus inserted between the one pole of the electric source and the contact arm .15.. When the contact 13 strikes the contact body 18, the

current from the latter flows through the arm 15,"the spring 17 to the electromagnet 11 and therefrom through the pendulum rod 9, the pin 10 and the electromagnet 12 tothe condenser 20, the latter thus being charged.- When. the contact 14 strikes the contact plate. 19 the electricity accumulated in the condenser flows through the said contacts 19 and 14, the arm 15, the spring'17, the electromagnets 11 and 12 and back to the condenser, the latter thereby being dis-.

charged. If the contact body 18 be provide d at the same side as the contact body 19 and. below the latter, as is indicated by dotted lines" in Fig. 2, the arm 15 need extend only to the one side and have only onecontact end. Instead of two electromagnetsj 'in combination with the pendulum'to drive the clock or the like.

Having now described my invention what "device controlled for maintaining the. movements of the said .the driven clock, and means actuated by the clock for periodically closing and breaking the circuit of said condenser, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

2. In an electrically driven pendulum actuat ed clock and its operating circuit, the combination of an electric condenser in said circuit for takin up and delivering the driving current of the said clock, and an osc illating member for closing and breaking the circuit of said condenser, substantially as and for the purpose set fort-h.

3. In an electrically driven pendulum actuated clock and its operating circuit, the combination of an electric condenser in said circuit for taking up and delivering the driving currents of the said clock, an oscillating member and an electro-magnetic by said oscillating member oscillating member and supplied by current vimpulses from the condenser, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an electrically driven clock and its operating circuit, an electric condenser in said circuit for taking up and delivering the driving currents of theclock, an oscillatingJnember having contacts for closing and breaking the circuit of said condenser, and an. electro-magnetic device connected in series with the condenser and adapted to maintain the movements of the saidoscillating member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5 In an electrlcally driven clock, the combination of an electric condenser for taking up and delivering the driving currents of the clock, a charging circuit for said condenser, a discharging circuit for theisame, an oscillating member, and an electro-magnetic clock-actuating device connected to one of said circuits, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

. 6. In an electrically driven clock, the combination of a swinging member, a contact de vice controlled by said member, and an electro' magnetic device for maintaining the mtivements of the said swinging member, an electric condenser conne ed in series with the said contact device and'the said electro-magnetic device whereby said condenser will discharge current impulses for said condenser will be charged and dis--' charged in timed relation to said swinging member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an electrically driven clock, the combination of a pendulum, switches ccntrelled operating said electro-magnetic device and f by the said pendulum, an electro-ma'gnetic device for maintaining the movements of the said pendulum, and an electric condenser connected to said switches for taking up and delivering the driving currents of the clock to said device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination with a source of high tension electricity and contact terminals therefor; of a pendulum, electro-ma-gnetic mechanism to maintain the movement of the pendulum, a condenser connected to the source of electricity, and a contact member insulated from and actuated by the pendulum to periodically and alternately close circuit through the electro-magnetic devices to the condenser, whereby said condenser will be alternately charged and discharged to periodically energize the electro-magnetic pendulum propelling devices.

9. The combination with a source of high tension electricity and a positive and negative contact terminal therefor; of an oseillating member, electro-magnetic means to actuate the oscillating member, a condenser connected to one pole of the source of elec said circuit and the electromagnetic devices, and contacts for charging the condenser from the supply circuit and discharging the condenser through said devices at diii'erent times and controlled by said element, whereby impulses from the condenser substantially constant in pressure and volume are supplied to said devices.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in of two subscribing Witnesses. GUSTAF OSCAR LARSSON. Witnesses:

EVALD DELMAR,

JOHN DELMAR.

presence 

